Walter Ray Starling

Capt. Walter Ray Starling, 67, of Brunswick, departed this life on July 8, 2017.Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Thursday, July 13, 2017, in the chapel of Edo Miller and Sons Funeral Home with Chaplain Randy Lamb officiating. Interment will follow in Palmetto Cemetery with Mike Evans, Keith Evans, Dusty Branch, Carl Alexander, Yank Moore, Bob Cannon, Neal Jump, Woody Henson, Abe Brown and alternates Chip Johnson, Wendell Harper and Rick Smith serving as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers are the Glynn County Police Department, Sheriff’s Department, Brunswick Police Department, Department of Natural Resources, Georgia State Patrol, Anguilla Hunting Club, John Simmons, Becky Tindall, Carol Nelms, Bob Hammer and Stephen Kitchen, M.D.

Ray was born on Aug. 28, 1949, in Toombs County Ga. He is preceded in death by his parents, Jacob and Mary Starling, and a sister Gloria Starling Alexander. Ray leaves behind two sisters and two brothers, Shirley Starling of Brunswick, Jane Bottorff and husband Donovan of Brunswick, Ron Starling of Odum and Roy Starling and wife Sue of Surrency. Seven nieces and nephews along with 12 great-nieces and great-nephews are also left behind.

Ray graduated from Glynn Academy High School in 1967 and immediately joined the Army, where after basic at Fort Benning he trained at the MP school, headed to Korea, and remained with the Army until 1972. When Ray came home, he joined the GCPD in 1972 from which he retired in 2003. He served in many positions including Captain of Narcotics, Captain of Investigations and Patrol Commander. While with the department he worked his way up in the ranks, graduating from the FBI National Academy in 1983. Ray was instrumental in founding the first narcotics team at GCPD. Ray joined the Sheriff’s Department in 2007 where he served at the Brunswick Courthouse. Ray was an original member of the 2 Way Sport Fishing Club and the Anguilla Hunting Club. Ray loved to be outdoors either in the woods or on the water.

The family will receive friends from 5-7 p.m. Wednesday, July 12, for visitation at Edo Miller Funeral Home to be followed by a celebration of life at 7:30 p.m. at the Brunswick Shrine Club, Darien Highway. Memorials may be made to Pine Ridge Baptist Church Children and Youth Fund, 15 Nimitz Drive, Brunswick, GA 31520. Edo Miller and Sons Funeral Home is entrusted with the arrangements. www.edomillerandsons.com